Rail anchor



June 9, 192.5. 1,541,084

H. G. WARR RAIL ANCHOR Original Filed Aug, 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #L ffl-@ El E25 Patented June 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.)

HAROLD G. WARE, F PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE-I & M COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

mun ANCHOR.

Application filed August 2, 1923, Serial No. 655,240. Renewed December 8, 1924.

To all icliom it 'may concern Be it known that I, HARoLn G. IVAnn, a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Park Ridge, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rail anchoring devices generally, and inoie particularly to one-piece anchor devices of the general type consisting of a rail base embracing yoke adapted to grip the upper and low-cr 'sur-A faces of the base portion of a railway rail. .f

Rail anchors of the general'type to which formed by bending a metal bar to vform jaws for receiving the upperinclined surfaces of a rail base at opposite sides 'of the rail and to provide a portion intermedi-ate said jaws adapted to bear against the bottoni'surface of the rail base. Such anchors are applied to their operative position by driving them transversely of the rail; the jaws and said intermediate portions being so -formed that the transverse movement, forcing one jaw upon the inclined surface ofthe rail base, distorts the anchor and thereby produces a spring grip on opposite edges of the rail base.

In order to obtain maximum efiiciency of anchorsvof the above general type (the anchors relying upon their resiliency to maintain the desired grip on the rail), it is necessary that they be manufactured accurately and be subjected only to a limited distortion during their application to a rail. VSuch accuracy is difficult to maintain in the manufacture of anchors of the configuration heretofore used. li`urtherinore, efiiciency of such anchors properly formed is o fteii inipaired by excessive distortion resulting from improper application of the anchors to their rail grinning position.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a Irail anchor of the above general type, that may be more easily and efiiciently manufactured, made with a higher average of perfection as to its rail grippingr portions, and which will take a more reliable hold on the rail base than other devices of this character.

The specific objects contemplated by this invention include the provision of a `onemy invention appertains are ordinarily and such other piece rail anchor device having one or more of the improved constructions as'follows: A rail anchor having -such configurations as will overcome the above mentioned and other incidental objections encountered inV the ,y

the rail in a direction to remove it; and anV anchor provided 'with means for indicating itsproper 'gripping position onr a rail and for preventing movement of the anchor beyond its 'intended lapplied position so as to lavoid excessive distortion of the anchor.

during its Vapplication to a rail.

f lhe invention further consists in such otlieihnew and improved constructions as' will be hereinafter described and claimed, for carrying out the above stated objects,

incidental objects as will appear from the following description.

The invention is illustrated in certain'preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawings, \vhereii1- i Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a rail anchor constructed in accordance with my invention, applied to its operative position on a rail base; i

Fig. 2 is a similar view in elevation of the anchor applied in its initial position on the rail and before the anchor is subjected to any appreciable stress.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structures illustrated iii thepreceding figures, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified embodiment of myA invention.

Like characters of reference designate like parts inthe several figures of the dra-wings.

In the drawings, l() esignates the lower cross-ties on which the rail is supported.

In Figs. 1, 2 and '3 of the drawings, I have shown my improved rail anchor as consisting of a yoke member 12 made of a steel bar, the ends offwhich are bent over to form hook-shaped jaws 13 and 14. The under surface of the jaw 13 is provided with an abrupt shoulder 15 adapted to abut against one edge of the rail base. tion 16 of the under surface of the jaw 13 general type of anchor V.

The por- 4 preferably inelines upwardly toward the eX- tremity of the jaw at an angle slightly greater than the inclination of the upper sur-` face of the rail base. This construction permits the application of the anchor to a rail made within the allowable variations in thickness -of its base flanges, and at the saine gime insures engagement of that portion of the jaw adjacent the shoulder 15 with the upper surface of the rail base. The jaw 14 is formed with an abrupt shoulder 17 which isl preferably formed at the termination of the bend of said jaw andabuts against the cient length to permit the bend 12a to' be made with a relatively large radius, thereby minimizing the weakness resulting from the stretching and swaging of the metal at this point. Furthermore, the arrangement of the seat 19, midway between the shoulders 15 and 17, makes it possible to form an anchor with relatively largev jaws with a minimum amount of metal, equalizes the pressure ofthe jaws on opposite edges of the rail base and insures a substantially uniform distribution of the distortion of the anchor during its application to a rail.

In applying my improved anchor to a rail,

the jaw.13 is first hooked over one edge of the rail base, and the jaw 14 positioned adjacent the opposite edge, substantially Vas shown in Fig. 2. The yoke may then be forced in the direction of its length toward the right of Fig. 2, so as to force the cam surface 18 over the upper corner of the adjacent edge of the rail base. The cam surface 18, being forced over the edge of the rail, distorts the yoke and thereby effects a substantially equal pressure of the jaws on the upper surfaces of the rail base and the seat 19 bears against the bottom surface thereof at the center. When the anchor is forced home, the shoulder 15 snaps down over one edge of the rail, and the shoulder 17 abuts against the opposite edge of the rail, thereby locking the anchor in its applied position.

The inclination of the lower surfaces of the jaws insures a firm engagement of the jaws with the rail base adjacent the shoulders 15 and 17 This construction in-- ing the` application of the anchor to the rail,

sures that the shoulder-15 will snap down over the edge of the rail and that both shoulders will properly function to lock the anchor against movement in either direction transversely of the rail. 'T he shoulder 17, in addition to providing a stop to prevent the anchor being driven beyond its proper position, provides suitable means for giving the workman a visual indicationas to when the anchor is nearing its applied position.

In Fig. 4; I have shown a modified form of anchor in which the gripping action of the anchor is effected by reason of a differential leverage of the jaws in addition to the cam action as shown in the preceding figures. This modification consists generally of a yokel formed with a relatively large hook shaped jaw portion and a smaller jaw portion for engaging opposite edges of a rail base and with an inverted V-shaped portion intermediate the jaws for bearing against the under surface of the rail base, such anchor devices being adapted to be applied to a rail by first hooking the relatively large jaw over one of the fianges of the rail and swinging the other end upward until the end of the smaller jaw clears the upper edge of the rail base flange, in which position the V-shaped portion of the ra-il anchor bears against the under surface of the rail. The smaller jaw is then driven upon the other flange of the rail base whereby the anchor is slightly distorted by reason of-the different distances between the rail engaging scat of said V-shaped portion and the rail engaging'surfaces of the.jaws and effects a spring grip of the devicev on the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base. This gripping action may be and preferably is increased by forming the under surface of the jaw portion 27 at aslightly greater angle than that of the under-surface of the jaw portion 28.

In applying a device of this general character the workman often drives the, anchor beyond its intended normal position, thereby subjecting the small jaw and other parts of the anchor to greater distortion than is intended. This is particularly true in connection with the type of anchor in which the end of the larger jaw is recessed or otherwise formed to provide an abutment, or shoulder. adapted to assume a position Vagainst thev vertical edge of the rail base blow intended to drive it home often forces vit upon the rail to a point bevond its iutended position. lilxcessve vdistortion of rail anchors of the above character impairs their resilient rail-gripping qualities, aml makes them unsuitable, when removed, to

be applied to another rail. I overcome'the above mentioned and other incidental objections to anchors of this general type, by providing the under surfaces 2:326 of both jaws 27, Q8 of the anchor with relatively abrupt shoulders 2S) and 30 adapted to abut against opposite edges of the rail base. The said lower surfaces of the jaws preferably incline upwardly toward the extremities of the jaws at a greater angle than the inclination of the upper surfaces of the rail base;`

thereby insuring a firm engagement of the jaws with the rail adjacent the shoulders Q9 and 30.

I do not claim specificallyherein the modified construction shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, nor do I claim herein the method employed in the manufacture' of the anchor devices herein shown. The modified form of anchor shown in Fig. 4 is described and claimed specifically in my copending divisional application, Serial No. 704,676, and the method of manufacturing the. anchor devices herein shown is described and claimed in my copending divisional application, Serial No. 708,493.

I claim:

l. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a yoke formed with jaws to engage opposite edges of the rail base and vwith abutments adapted to engage with the edges of the rail base; said jaws being angularly disposed withrelation to each other whereby bodily movement'. of the yoke transversely of the rail moves the jaws into gripping engagcment with the rail.

2. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke having angularly disposed jaws which project over opposite edges of the rail base and bear against said base adjacent the upper corners thereof, said yoke being movable bodily transversely of the rail to effect a gripping engagement of said jaws on the rail and said jaws being formed with abutments for engaging oppo- .site edges of the rail base to prevent the yoke moving transversely of the. rail base beyond a predetermined point.

3. Arail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yolce pnovided with. jaws for engaging the upper and vertical surfaces of the rail base at opposite edges thereof and with means for bearing against the under surface of said rail base, said jaws being angularly disposed with relation to 'each' other wherebybodily movement of the yoke transversely of the rail moves the jaws into gripping engagement with the rail.

4. A rail anchor adapted to be applied to its operative position by lnovement of the device transversely of the rail comprising a rail base embracing yoke provided with jaws having portions for engaging the upper surfaces of the rail base and with abutments adapted to engage the vertical edges of the base; thebody of the yoke being bent to provide a seat which bears against the under surface. of the rail base with spring pressure when the anchor is in its applied position.

:LA rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke provided with jaws having portions for engaging the upper surfacesI of the rail base and with abutments adapted to engage the vertical edges of said base; the' body ofthe yoke being bent to provide a seat adapted to'bear against theunder surface of the rail base at substantially the center lof the rail.

(3Q A rail` anchoreomprising a yoke formed with jaws to engage the upper surfaces of a rail base at opposite edges thereof and with means for bearing against the under surface of said base; said jaws being disposed with relation to said bearing means to effect distortion of said yoke when the. yoke. is driven transversely of the rail, and one of said jaws being formed with an abutment adapted to engage the edge of the. rail to limit said transverse movement.

7. A rail anchor comprising a yoke formed with jaws for engaging the upper surfaces of a rail base adjacent the upper corners thereof and with means for bearing against the under surface of said base; said jaws being disposed with relation to said bearing means to effect distortion of said yoke when the yoke is driven transversely of the rail and one of said jaws being pro* vided with an abutment adapted to engage the edge of -the rail to limit said tran verse movement.

8. A rail anchor comprising a yoke formed with jaws for engaging'the upper. surfaces of a rail base at opposite sides of the rail and with means for bearing against the under surface of said base; said jaws being disposed with relation to said bearing means to effect distortion of said yoke when Vthe same is driven transversely of the rail,

one of said vjaws being formed with an abutment adapted to engage one edge of ithe rail to limit said transverse movement,

and the other of said jaws'being formed with a `shoulder adapted to prevent transverse movement of the yoke inthe opposite directio I 9. A nepiece rail anchor comprising a yoke foimcd by bending a vide jaw s for engaging the. upper surfaces of a rai base and to provide a seat adapted to beariagainst the under surface of said base: said jaws and seat being disposed with relation to each other so as to make it necessary to distort said yoke when applying it to its operative position and said jaws being provided with shoulders adapted to engage the opposite. vertical edges of the rai-l base for the purpose described.

10. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with means for enmetal bar to pro- IUS gaging one side of the base of a rail, said. meansbeing formed to confine its engagement to the upper corner of said base and adapted to be driven -transversely of the rail to its gripping position.

11. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with means formed with a bearing surface adapted to engage the upper surface of the base of a rail and adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its gripping position, said bearing surface being formed to normally lstand at an :ingle to the said upper surface of the rail base so as to confine the engagement of said means to a pointwnear the uppercorner of said base.

12. A rail` anchor comprising a rail base embracing member `formed with a jaw portion adapted to receive one edge of a yrail base and bearfagainst the upper surface thereof, vthe said jaw portion being formed with an abutment adapted to engage the vertical surface of the base and formed with a bearing surface which normally stands at an angle to thel upper surface of said base so as to insure engagement'with the rail of the portion of said jaw adjacent said shoulder.

13. A rail anchor comprising a member formed with jaws for engaging opposite edges of a rail base and with means for bearing against the bottom surface of said base with spring pressure, said jaws being formed withy lower surfaces which normally i stand at an angle to the upper surfaces of said base to insure engagement of the jaws with the upper surfaces of the base adjacent the opposite edges thereof.

14. A rail anchor Apornprising a member formed with jaws' or. engaging opposite edges of a rail base and with means for bearing against the bottom surface of said base with spring pressure, said means being disposed with relation to said jaws to equalize the pressure of said jaws on the upper surfaces of the rail base at opposite sides of the rail.

15. A rail anchor comprising a rail engaging member formed with a hook shaped bend providing a jaw adapted to be driven upon an edge of a rail base and grip the upper surface thereof and formed in said bend with a shoulder adapted to abut against'the vertical edge .of the rail base.

16. A one piece railanchor comprising a f rail gripping member provided with means for engaging oneside of a rail base, said means being formed to confine its engagement to the upper corner of said base and adapted to be driven transversely of the rail to its gripping position.

17. A one piece rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with means formedwith a bearing surface adapted to be driven transverselyof the rail into gripping engagement with the upper surface of the rail base, said bearing surface being formed to normally stand at an angle to the said upper surface of the rail base so as to confine the engagement. of said means to a point near the upper corner of said base.

18. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing member formed with a jaw adapted to receive one edge of arail base and bear against the upper surface thereof, the said jaw portion being formed with an abutment adapted to engage the vertical edge of the base and formed with a bearing surface which normally stands at an angle to the upper surface of the rail base so as to insure engagement with the rail of the portion of the jaw' adjacent said shoulder.

19. A one piece rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke formed with jaws for engaging opposite edges of a rail base and with means for bearing against the bottom surface of said base with spring pressure, said jaws being formed with lower surfaces which normally stand at an angle to the upper surfaces of said rail base to confine the engagement of said jaws to the upper corners of said base.

20. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke formed with jaw portions which project over and bear against the upper surfaces of the rail base at opposite sides of the rail and provided with abutments adapted, when the anchor is in its applied position, to engage the said opposite sides of the rail base to resist movement of the anchor transversely of the rail, the'under-surfaces of the said jaw portions being inclined upwardly from said shoulders to the extremity of the jaws at a greater angle than the inclination of the upper surfaces of the rail base so as to confine the engagement of said jaws with the rail to the upper opposite corners of the rail base.

21. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke formed with jaws having abutments for engaging opposite sides of a rail base and provided with means adapted to bear against the bottom surface of the rail base, said means being so disposed with relation -to said jaws as to require distortion of the anchor in applying it to a rail and one of said jaws being formed with a cam surface whereby the said distortion of the anchor may be effected by moving the yoke transversely of the rail to force said pam surface over an upper edge of the rail iase.

22. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke formed with jaws having abutments for engaging opposite sides of a rail base and provided with means adapted to bear against the bottom surface of the rail base ats-,substantially the center of the rail, said means being so disposed with relation to said jaws as to require distortion of thc anchor' in applying itto a rail and one of said jaws being formed with a cam surface. whereby the said distortion of the anchor may be effected by moving the yoke transversely of the rail to force said, surface over an upper edge of the rail base.

23. A one piece rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke formed with jaws having abutments for engaging opposite sides of a rail base and formed with anrupwardly bent portion adapted to bear'against the bottom surface of the rail base, said upwardly bent portion being so disposed with relation to said jaws as torequire distortion' of the yoke in applying it to a rail and ,one of said jaws being formed with a camsurface whereby the said distortion of the yoke is effected by moving. the yoketransversely of the rail to force said cam surface over an upper edge of the rail base.

24. A one piece rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke formed with jaws having abutments for engaging opposite sides of a rail base and formed with an upwardly bent portion adapted to bear against the bottom surface of the rail base at substantially the ycenter yof the. rail, said upf wardly bent portion being so disposed with relation to the said jaws as to require distortion of the yoke in applying it to arail and one of said jaws being formed with a cam surface whereby thesaid distortion of the yoke is effected by moving the yoke transversely of the rail to force said cam surface over the upper edge of the rail base.

25. A one piece rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke formed with jaws having upper surface of the-rail base and with an upwardly bent portion adapted to bear,

against the central portion of the under sui'face of the rail base, which bent portion is so disposed with relation to said jaws as to require distortion of the yoke in applying it to a rail, the said bearing surfaces of the jaws being formed to normally stand at a greater angle than the inclination of .the upper surfaces of the rail base so as to confine the engagement of said jaws to the upper corner of the rail base; the angular surface of one of said jaws being adapted to function as a cain to 'effect the distortion of the yoke.

26. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping yoke composed of a metal bar having its central portion bont upwardly to provide a spring seat adapted to bear against the under surface of a rail base and having its ends bent upwardly and inwardly to lprovide hook-shaped jaws, the bearing points of which are substantially equidistant from said spring seat.

27. A rail anchor comprising a rail grip- 4rail Yadapted to engage opposite edges of the rail bearing surfaces for engaging the ing movement of the anchor during its application to a rail.

28. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping yoke -composed of a metal bar. having its central portion bent upwardly to provide a spring seat adapted to bear against the central portion ofthe under surface of a rail base and having its ends bent upwardly and inwardly to provide hook-shaped jaws to bear against the upper surface of the base at opposite sides of 1 the rail,`

base and with bearing surfaces inclining upwardly at a greater angle than the in.- clination of the upper surfaces of said base, whereby the engagement of said jawswith the rail is confined to the upper corners of the rail base; one of said jaws .being provided with a shoulder to of'lthe anchor during its application to a ral 29. A rail anchor comprising a member lformed with jaws for engaging the upper surfaces of a rail base on opposite sides of a rail and with means for bearing against the bottom surface of said base with spring pressure, said jaws being angularly disposed with relation to each other, whereby bodily movement of the device transversely of the rail moves the jaws into gripping engagement with the rail, and said means for bearing against the under surface of the rail being disposed with relation to the jaws to equalize the pressure of said jaws on said upper surfaces of the rail base.

30. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member formed with jaws for engaging the upper surfaces of a rail base on opposite sides of a rail and with means for bearing against the bottom surface of said base with spring pressure, said jaws being angular-ly disposed with relation to each other, whereby bodily movement of the yoke transversely of the rail moves nient with the rail, and said means for bearing against the under surface of the rail base being disposed substantially midway between the point of engagement vof vsaid jaws with the rail base, for the purpose described,

31. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke under strain when applied to the rail, formed near its extremities with limit the movement j the jaws into gripping engagel f notches to engage the upper corners of the rail base, and to bear at an intermediate point against the under side of the rail base.

32. A rail anchor comprising a rail base embracing yoke under strain when applied to the rail, formed near its extremities with notches to engage the upper corners of the rail base, and with an intermediate npwardlyprojecting seat to bear against the under sideof the rail.

33. A rail anchor comprising a rail'base embracing yoke under strain when applied to the rail, applicable to the rail by movement transverse with respect to the rail, formed near its extremities with notches to engage the edges of the rail base on opposite sidesof the rail and provided with an intermediate seat to bear against the under side of the rail base.

34. A rail anchor comprising a yoke mem ber formed at one end with means for engaging one edge of a rail base and at the other end with a jaw portion adapted to be driven transversely of the rail into gripping engagement with the other edge of the 35. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member formed at one end withmeans for engaging one edge of a. rail base and at the other end with a jaw adapted to be distorted by driving the yoke member transversely of the rail; said jaw portion of the anchor be ing provided with an abutmenty to limit the applying movement of the anchor.

36,'A rail anchor comprising a bar extending transversely o the rail under the base and formed at one end with a jaw adapted to bear against the upper surface of the rail base at one side thereof; said jaw and bar being so disposed with relation to each other that transverse movement of the anchor toward its normal operative position distorts said jaw, said jaw being provided with a shoulder adapted to bear against the edge of the rail base to limit said applying movement.

HAROLD G. VVARR. 

